Miami – Seven years ago, a prominent South Florida politician was arrested at a fundraiser Tuesday night for missing a court date.
Police haven’t even looked for her, raising questions about how she was reported and why.
Local 10 News was there when Vanessa Brito was released on bail.
This appears to be less about crime and more about fraudulent political activity, which is very common in South Florida.
Brito is emotional after spending an unexpected night in prison.
“I think someone was trying to punk me,” she said. “A few days ago I spoke out against a lot of the things that are going on here with the big consultants.”
There was an arrest warrant out for Brito for almost seven years for people who knew her, but no police department was actively searching for her.
“They’ll track you down, hire private investigators, look into everything,” she says. “I’m a very vocal person just because they don’t like it.”
Brito was originally charged with misdemeanor shoplifting from a Target in Midtown Miami. She did not attend the trial, but she had pleaded not guilty, even though she was struggling to care for her dying mother.
A judge issued the warrant in early 2018.
Mr. Brito is well known in local political circles. Her candidates and campaigns hire her as a consultant.
On Tuesday evening, while she was at a fundraiser at a political event in Wynwood, someone called Miami police to let them know she was there and that there was an old warrant for her arrest, and police had no choice but to act.
“This is bullying,” she said. “I took a break from politics to look after my mother, but I regret coming back.”
Brito now has to deal with a long-standing misdemeanor, but she’s not too worried about it.
But she worries about the dirty politics that could affect her life.
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